Non removable knob trim

ABSTRACT

A mortise type lock has outside and inside mounting plates held in place on opposite sides of the door by use of screws accessible from the inside only. A decorative rose covers the outside mounting plate and an internally threaded outside sleeve which engages an externally threaded inside sleeve, in turn fastened to the mounting plate, overlies the rose preventing removal. The shank of an outside knob surrounding a rotatable sleeve has an aperture into which extends a spring pressed knob retainer for holding the knob on the rotatable sleeve. When the knob and attached parts are mounted on the mortise type lock a central spindle shifts from a position permitting release of the knob retainer to a position extending into the knob retainer to block movement of the knob retainer and release of the knob.

[ Dec. 18, 1973 Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, Ill AtlorneyVernon D. Beehler et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A mortise type lock has outside and inside mounting plates held in place on opposite sides of the door by use of screws accessible from the inside only. A decorative rose covers the outside mounting plate and an internally threaded outside sleeve which engages an externally threaded inside sleeve, in turn fastened to Inventors: Vernard W. Sanders; Ronald C.

Powell, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

Assignee: Norris Industries, Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 Appl. No.: 223,870

United States Patent Sanders et a].

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7 PAIENIEDnacmms v 3.779590 SHEEY 1 0? 3 a n w M 6 PATENTEU Bin 18 I975 SHEET 3 UP 3 NON REMOVABLE KNOB TRIM One of the problems which invariably has to be resolved in a design and construction of a door lock is to provide some means of being able to remove the outside knob when occasion requires but to have that removal means of such character that the outside knob cannot be removed by unauthorized persons. A common expedient is to so construct the knob retaining means for the outside knob that although it can be removed when the lock is unlocked, it cannot be removed when the lock is locked. Such features, usually require a somewhat complex mechanism in a lock structure, already complicated by the nature of the device itself, to make sure that the knob retaining means will in fact be properly activated when the lock is locked.

Another more common expedient is to arrange the knob retaining means for the outside knob in such fashion that the retainer, often a pin driven into place, is covered by an appropriate decorative collar and is a semi-permanent feature. Although this expedient has the desired amount of security, it is at the same time a fastening means difficult to remove when that finally becomes necessary. Furthermore, by having the knob retaining means for the outside knob of different construction than the knob retaining means for the inside knob makes necessary an additional number of parts for a door lock, most types of which are already complex and feature a rather large number of necessarily interfitting parts.

Among prior patents which show a prevelent expedient for fastening the outside knob in place on a mortise type lock is Crandell U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,486.

I It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved non-removable knob trim especially adapted for securing an outside knob of a door lock in place when the lock is assembled on a door, but which can be readily disengaged to permit removal of the outside knob when the door lock is disassembled from its position on the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved non-removable knob trim featuring a knob retainer which is substantially identical to the knob retainer of the inside trim but which is of such character that when the lock is in place on the door the outside knob cannot be removed, whether the lock is in locked or unlocked condition.

Still another object of' the invention is to provide a new and improved knob retaining means for the outside knob of a door lock which is automatically rendered inoperable preventing removal of the outside knob merely by assembling the outside knob assembly in place on the door lock.

= Further included among the objects of the invention is to provide anew and improved non-removable knob trim especially well adapted to use with a mortise type lock wherein the parts are substantially the same as used for the knob retainer on the inside knob, except for'an automatic arrangement which is projected into place by the mere act of assembling the knob assemr'blies on'the lock when mounted on a door such that the outside knobthen becomes no longer removable until the lock set is disassembled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinapointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side perspective view of a mortise type door lock showing the outside knob in position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of'the knob retainer used with the device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6 6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 7 7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the position of parts when the lock is removed from the door.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the key retainer for the inside knob.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a door 10 in which a mortise recess 11 is cut from one edge 12 of the door for the accomodation of a mortise lock case 13, held in place by a face plate 14. A latch bolt 15, of substatially conventional construction, is manipulated by either an outside retractor hub 16 or an inside retractor hub 17, see FIG. 2.

An outside knob assembly indicated generally by the reference character 18 is substantially duplicated, except for a few details, by an inside knob assembly, only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 2 to suggest the presence of the inside knob assembly. As there shown, sleeves 19 of the inside knob assembly telescopingly engage posts 20 of smaller diameter of the outside knob assembly 18. The posts 20 are provided with an internally threaded portion for receiving screws (not shown) accessible from the inside knob assembly, which securely fasten the outside knob assembly 18 and the inside knob assembly to their respective faces of the door 10. The sleeves l9 and posts 20 extend through aligned openings 21 .and 22 in the mortise lock case 13, and as well extend through aligned openings 23 and 24 on opposite sides of the door 10.

The outside knob assembly 18, which may readily be designated an outside operating assembly, features an outside knob 25 which is received in an outside rose assembly, visible parts of which consist of an escutcheon 27 and collar 28. A-knob shank 29 is rotatably lodged within the collar 28, these-parts being all readily visible on FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

Under the escutcheon 27 is a mounting plate 30 upon which the posts 20 are secured. The escutcheon 27 not only covers the outside surface of the mounting plate 30 but also has an edge flange 31 which overlies the circumferencial edge 30' of the mounting plate 30. A similar mounting plate (not shown) for the inside knob assembly has two sleeves 19 mounted on it.

Additionally included in the outside knob assembly 18 is a sleeve bearing 35 which is anchored nonrotatably to the mounting plate 30 by provision of a notch 36 in a flange 37 of the sleeve bearing which receives a tab 38 cut from the mounting plate, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.

The exterior of the sleeve bearing 35 is provided with an external thread 39 which engages an internal thread 40 on the collar 28, thereby allowing the collar 28 to be screwed into a proper position of adjustment that firmly retains the escutcheon 27 against the door 10. To prevent distorting the escutcheon 27 when tightening the collar 28 there is provided a support member 41.

In rotatable engagement with an inside surface 42 of the sleeve bearing 35 is a sleeve assembly consisting of a cylindrical sleeve 43 and a flange sleeve 44 which are fastened together by appropriate conventional means and act as a unit. A flange 45 on the flanged sleeve overlies the inside end edge of the sleeve bearing 35 in an appropriate recess 46.

In the cylindrical sleeve 43 are diametrically aligned openings 47 and 48 through which extend a knob re tainer indicated generally by a reference character 49 and shown in perspective view in FIG. 4. A spring clip 50 surrounds the cylindrical sleeve 43, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the spring clip having a hole 51 for reception of a small projection 52 of the knob retainer 49. A large projection 53 at the opposite end of the knob retainer 49 extends through the opening 47 in the cylindrical sleeve 43, and continues outwardly extending through an opening 54 in the knob shank 29. By action of the spring clip 50 the knob retainer 49 is held in the retaining position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Centerably disposed is a spindle indicated generally by the reference character 60, the spindle being of somewhat composite shape having a square or other polygonal shaped end 61, and a diametrical midsection 62 somewhat smaller in cross-sectional area than the end 61 and a diametrical end section 63 still smaller in cross-sectional area than the mid-section 62. A snap fastener 64 engages a shallow wide peripheral groove 64' in the end section 63 at a location spaced from a shoulder 65 a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the retainer bar 49, as shown in FIG. 3. Another snap fastener 66 engaged in a perimetral recess 67 at the opposite end 61 acts with the snap fastener 64 to retain the spindle 60 against removal from the outside knob assembly 18.

A coil spring 70 bears at one end against a shoulder 71 of the spindle 60 and at the other end against a spring keeper 72 which is in engagement with an adjacent face of the knob retainer 49, thereby normally urging the spindle 60 in a direction from right to left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The end 61 of the spindle 60 is received in a matching polygonal hole 73 of the flanged sleeve 44 thereby making the spindle 60 non rotatable with respect to the sleeve assembly embodied in the cylindrical sleeve 43 and flanged sleeve 44. The spindle however is free to move end wise through the square hole 73.

A bore 74 through the knob retainer 49 allows the spindle 60 and especially the mid-section 62 and end section 63 to move endwise with respect to the knob retainer 49.

A matching polygonal hole 75 in the outside retracter hub 16 is adapted to receive the end 61 of the spindle 60 thereby to enable the retracter hub 16 to be rotated when the spindle 43 is rotated.

A stabilizing cap 80 at the outside end of the cylindrical sleeve 43 flts in an opening 81 in the outside knob 25 to effectively stabilize the location of the knob with respect to the cylindrical sleeve and in consequence the sleeve assembly. A low friction cylindrical bearing element 82 is located between the inside surface of the knob shank 29 and the outside surface of the sleeve bearing 35 to improve the ease of rotation of the knob with respect to the sleeve bearing as the knob rotates within a recess 83 of the collar 28.

When the knob assembly 18 is not attached to the door 10 (FIG. 8) the spring will extend the spindle 60 in a direction from right to left as viewed in FIG. 3 for example to the position of FIG. 8-where the end section 63 of relatively small area lies within the bore 74 of the knob retainer 49. When this condition prevails, the knob retainer can be depressed by pressing against the large projection 53 to disengage it from the opening 54 of the knob shank thereby to permit removal of the knob 25 from the sleeve assembly. When however the outside knob assembly is assembled to the door 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the end 61 lodged in the hole of the hub 16 and the snap fastener 66 bearing against the adjacent surface of the hub 16, thespring 70 will yield so that the spindle 60 is then moved in a direction from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3 until the mid-section 62 which has a cross-sectional area approximating the bore 74 lies within the bore 74 of the knob retainer 49. This condition is also shown in FIG. 5. When this condition prevails pressure against the large projection 53 of the knob retainer 49 will not result in dislodging it from the opening 54 because the mid-section 62 of the spindle 60 blocks its movement. Therefore, even though the end of the knob retainer 49 is exposed on the outside of the door, the outside knob 25 cannot be removed.

The inside knob assembly is virtually the same construction as the outside knob assembly 18 with the exception being that the knob retainer 49' (FIG. 9) is provided with a bore 74".

The elongation being towards the large projection 53' allows the knob retainer 49' to be depressed as the mid-section 62 has no blocking effect upon the elongated bore 74". Under thesecircumstances the inside knob can be readily removed and replaced.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a mortise type lock having a case and an outside roll back hub rotatably mounted in said case the combination of an outside operating assembly comprising an outside mounting plate having a sleeve bearing anchored thereto, a rose assembly overlying said sleeve bearing, a sleeve assembly rotatably mounted within said sleeve bearing and including means acting axially outwardly against said sleeve bearing retaining said sleeve assembly against outward displacement in said sleeve bearing, a hand hold having a shank in rotatable engagement with the exterior of said sleeve bearing, diametrically acting resilient retaining means for holding said hand hold on said sleeve assembly including aligned openings in said sleeve assembly and said shank, a retainer extending from the opening in said sleeve assembly into the said shank, said retainer having an axial bore therethrough, a spindle assembly comprising a spindle having one end yieldably urged into a fixed position of non rotatable engagement with said outside roll back hub when the outside operating assembly is attached to the case, the other end of said spindle having a relatively thick portion providing means occupying the bore of said retainer when the outside operating assembly is attached to said case and a relatively thin portion providing means automatically occupying the bore of said retainer when the outside operating assembly is not attached to the case whereby to enable displacement of said retainer and removal of said hand hold from said sleeve assembly.

2. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the end of the spindle which engages the hub is non-circular in cross-sectional shape and the other end has a mid-section substantially filling the bore in said retainer when the outside operating assembly is attached to the case and an end section smaller in cross sectional area than said mid-section.

3. An outside operating assembly as in claim 2 wherein'there is a removable fastener adjacent the noncircular end and another removable fastener adjacent the end at said end section whereby to prevent disengagement of the spindle from the sleeve assembly.

4. An outside operating assembly as in claim 3 wherein a resilient means within the sleeve assembly acts between said retainer and said spindle whereby to bias said spindle in a direction of potential engagement with said hub.

5. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the sleeve assembly comprises a first cylindrical member with a flange on the inside end overlying said sleeve bearing, and a second cylindrical member anchored in non-rotatable engagement with said first cylindrical member.

6. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is an external thread on said sleeve hearing and said rose assembly includes a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding said shank and having an internal thread in engagement with said external thread whereby said rose assembly is threadably drawn into engagement with said mounting plate.

7. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is a relatively free low friction cylindrical bearing element located between the interior of said shank and the exterior of said sleeve bearing. 

1. In a mortise type lock having a case and an outside roll back hub rotatably mounted in said case the combination of an outside operating assembly comprising an outside mounting plate having a sleeve bearing anchored thereto, a rose assembly overlying said sleeve bearing, a sleeve assembly rotatably mounted within said sleeve bearing and including means acting axially outwardly against said sleeve bearing retaining said sleeve assembly against outward displacement in said sleeve bearing, a hand hold having a shank in rotatable engagement with the exterior of said sleeve bearing, diametrically acting resilient retaining means for holding said hand hold on said sleeve assembly including aligned openings in said sleeve assembly and said shank, a retainer extending from the opening in said sleeve assembly into the said shank, said retainer having an axial bore therethrough, a spindle assembly comprising a spindle having one end yieldably urged into a fixed position of non rotatable engagement with said outside roll back hub when the outside operating assembly is attached to the case, the other end of said spindle having a relatively thick portion providing means occupying the bore of said retainer when the outside operating assembly is attached to said case and a relatively thin portion providing means automatically occupying the bore of said retainer when the outside operating assembly is not attached to the case whereby to enable displacement of said retainer and removal of said hand hold from said sleeve assembly.
 2. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the end of the spindle which engages the hub is non-circular in cross-sectional shape and the other end has a mid-section substantially filling the bore in said retainer when the outside operating assembly is attached to the case and an end section smaller in cross sectional area than said mid-section.
 3. An outside operating assembly as in claim 2 wherein there is a removable fastener adjacent the non-circular end and another removable fastener adjacent the end of said end section whereby to prevent disengagement of the spindle from the sleeve assembly.
 4. An outside operating assembly as in claim 3 wherein a resilient means within the sleeve assembly acts between said retainer and said spindle whereby to bias said spindle in a direction of potential engagement with said hub.
 5. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein the sLeeve assembly comprises a first cylindrical member with a flange on the inside end overlying said sleeve bearing, and a second cylindrical member anchored in non-rotatable engagement with said first cylindrical member.
 6. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is an external thread on said sleeve bearing and said rose assembly includes a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding said shank and having an internal thread in engagement with said external thread whereby said rose assembly is threadably drawn into engagement with said mounting plate.
 7. An outside operating assembly as in claim 1 wherein there is a relatively free low friction cylindrical bearing element located between the interior of said shank and the exterior of said sleeve bearing. 